Chowmahalla Palace Museum

The Chowmahalla Palace Museum occupies the restored halls of Chowmahalla Palace on Motigalli in Khilwat, in the Old City of Hyderabad, Telangana, India. The palace was the ceremonial seat of the Asaf Jahi Nizams, begun around 1750 and completed in about 1869, and the museum presents the material culture of that court during the 18th to early 20th centuries. After decades of decline following the merger of Hyderabad State with India in 1948, the palace was restored through a programme led by the Nizam's descendants with heritage architects, and its rooms were opened as a museum, with the restoration receiving a UNESCO Asia-Pacific heritage award. The exhibits are set in the rooms and galleries where the court once operated. They include Nizam-era costumes and textiles, weapons and armour, manuscripts, photographs, household objects and a collection of vintage cars, among them Rolls-Royce and Buick models once used by the Nizam's household, in the palace's former garage. The durbar hall, the Khilwat Mubarak, is the centrepiece, with its Belgian chandeliers and marble throne platform, and adjoining rooms display furniture, crockery and personal items. The Bara Imam and Shishe Alat corridors, on the northern courtyard, hold further galleries. The curatorial approach is immersive rather than strictly chronological: objects are shown in their original architectural settings, with labels giving context on the Nizams and court life. Preservation is generally good, since the restoration repaired roofs, plasterwork and gardens, and the palace is maintained by a dedicated trust. Guided tours and audio guides are available, and English labels are provided. A full visit takes two to three hours, and the palace is closed on Fridays. Visitors often add Charminar, Mecca Masjid and the Laad Bazaar, all close by, to the same day.